Brighten Your Day

Watch This Queen Bee Stop A Rebellion Before It Can Start

May 1, 2019

Ryan Brock captured an incredible moment while observing a colony of tree bumblebees as part of his Ph.D. program.

The queen catches a worker bee laying eggs and gives her a "rather nasty telling off".

Cool example of kin conflict in one of my Tree Bumblebee colonies. Here, the queen catches worker #3 laying eggs and gives her a rather nasty telling off. pic.twitter.com/AHop2WIBvD

— Ryan Brock (@RBrock94) April 24, 2019

In bumblebee colonies, worker bees can lay eggs in hopes that their offspring could one day take control of the hive.

But this queen was on guard and quickly put an end to a potential rebellion. She also made sure to eat the eggs.

Later, the queen returns to the eggcup and eats the worker-laid eggs, ensuring that resources aren't 'wasted' on rearing worker-produced offspring. pic.twitter.com/taCnq0vXJe

— Ryan Brock (@RBrock94) April 24, 2019

Brock added that "worker #3 is still alive, although I haven't seen her lay eggs again since this happened!"